Premium
Connectedness, social support and internalising emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents displaced by the Chechen conflict
Author(s) -
Betancourt Theresa S.,
Salhi Carmel,
Buka Stephen,
Leaning Jennifer,
Dunn Gillian,
Earls Felton
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
disasters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1467-7717
pISSN - 0361-3666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7717.2012.01280.x
Subject(s) - social connectedness , chechen , psychology , developmental psychology , peer group , protective factor , clinical psychology , social psychology , medicine , political science , law
The study investigated factors associated with internalising emotional and behavioural problems among adolescents displaced during the most recent Chechen conflict. A cross‐sectional survey (N=183) examined relationships between social support and connectedness with family, peers and community in relation to internalising problems. Levels of internalising were higher in displaced Chechen youth compared to published norms among non‐referred youth in the United States and among Russian children not affected by conflict. Girls demonstrated higher problem scores compared to boys. Significant inverse correlations were observed between family, peer and community connectedness and internalising problems. In multivariate analyses, family connectedness was indicated as a significant predictor of internalising problems, independent of age, gender, housing status and other forms of support evaluated. Sub‐analyses by gender indicated stronger protective relationships between family connectedness and internalising problems in boys. Results indicate that family connectedness is an important protective factor requiring further exploration by gender in war‐affected adolescents.